Biomolecules, Volume 15, Issue 4

The mouse genome is transcribed at different rates in both directions from the newly formed genome after fertilization. During embryonic genomic activation (EGA/ZGA), the first RNA metabolism creates heterogeneity between blastomeres. Indeed, ZGA-dep...

Mature adipocyte-derived dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells show proliferative capabilities and multipotency. Given that the buccal fat pad (BFP) serves as a readily available resource for DFAT cell isolation, BFP-derived DFAT (BFP-DFAT) cells are a p...

Intervertebral disc (IVD) disease is typically characterized by the degradation of IVD tissue, secretion of inflammatory and painful factors, and hyperinnervation of the disc. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has been re...

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a complex syndrome associated with high mortality and hospital readmissions, characterized by volume overload and inflammation. Soluble ST2 (sST2) and antigen carbohydrate 125 (CA125) are emerging biomarkers t...

The testis-specific serine kinases (TSSKs) are post-meiotically expressed in testicular germ cells. Their testis-specific expression, together with their putative role in phosphorylation pathways, suggests that TSSKs have relevant roles in spermiogen...

Post-COVID syndrome has unveiled intricate connections between inflammation, depressive psychopathology, and cognitive impairment. This study investigates these relationships in 101 COVID-19 survivors, focusing on sex-specific variations. Utilizing p...

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder associated with an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with variable phenotypic expression among different genotypes. While the PiZZ genotyp...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that play a crucial role in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and are implicated in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Their dysregulation has...

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent a diverse group of disorders that primarily affect the pulmonary interstitium and, less commonly, involve the alveolar and vascular epithelium. Overlapping clinical, radiological and histopathological featur...

Peptide drugs have been broadly applied in cancer treatment and diagnosis due to their ability to accurately identify biomarkers with good biocompatibility. However, their clinical application is limited by protease degradation, which induces short c...

The exposome represents the totality of endogenous and exogenous exposures across the lifespan. These exposures may result in DNA and RNA damage, in the form of adducts, which is a key factor in the etiology of a variety of human diseases, including...

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), including the maxilla and mandible, is considered a challenging therapeutic problem, mainly due to the lack of understanding of its pathogenesis. It is well known that ONJ is a severe side effect caused by certain medi...

Bemisia tabaci is a major agricultural pest that affects both greenhouse and field crops by feeding on plant sap, which impairs plant growth, and by secreting honeydew, promotes sooty mold growth that further reduces photosynthesis. Additionally, the...

Serotonin 5HT_1A receptors may be affected in neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Using the selective 5HT_1A receptor positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent, [¹⁸F]mefway, autoradiograp...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by the inflammation of synovial fluid. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing in RA patients. This research is the first report to investigate...

Human angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in vasoregulation, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders. The enzyme is formed of two domains; the C-domain (cACE) is primarily involved in blood pressure regulation, whereas the N-domai...

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed melanoma treatment; however, predicting patient responses remains a significant challenge. This study reviews the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize ICI therapy in melanoma by in...

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a mainstay of treatment for epilepsy. Although VPA is generally considered well tolerated, it has serious adverse effects related to the pathological impact on cerebral perfusion and oxidative metabolism, leading to...

Vitamin D is a sterol prohormone with no intrinsic biological activity. Calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, is synthesized in the kidneys. It has well-known pleiotropic and cytoprotective properties. In addition to regulating parathyroid hormon...

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles, ranging from 30 to 150 nm, that are essential in cell biology, mediating intercellular communication and serving as biomarkers due to their origin from cells. Exosomes as biomarkers for diagnosing various il...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatments. Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein contributes to neurodegeneration in AD. Previous studies have identified pT231-tau in the cis conformation as an early dr...

Myocardial infarction (MI), including ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation MI (NSTEMI), has been the leading cause of hospitalization and death. Exosomes participate in many physiological and pathological processes and have important effects...

Background: The incidence of malignant melanoma (MM) continues to increase annually, and tumour invasiveness is a main prognostic factor. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become key tools in the study of cancer genetics, influencing suscep...

Genomics plays a crucial role in addressing health disparities, yet most studies rely on the hg38 linear reference genome, limiting the potential of pangenomic approaches, particularly for underrepresented populations. In this study, we focus on char...

Laboratory and animal studies indicate that melatonin exerts a negative impact on breast cancer progression and metastasis. These actions are both receptor-dependent and -independent. Of the two transmembrane melatonin receptors identified in humans,...

Ketogenesis, a mitochondrial metabolic pathway, occurs primarily in liver, but kidney, colon and retina are also capable of this pathway. It is activated during fasting and exercise, by “keto” diets, and in diabetes as well as during ther...

Hypercholesterolemia causes atherosclerosis by inducing immune cell migration and chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Recent single-cell analyses reveal the presence of lipid-enriched foamy macrophages, as well as other macrophage subtypes, neutr...

Grossheimin, a guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactone, displayed a diverse range of biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Various amino analogues of grossheimin were prepared through a Michael addition...

Proinsulin has three distinct regions: the well-folded A- and B-chains and the dynamic disordered C-peptide. The highly conserved B-chain is a hotspot for diabetes-associated mutations, including the severe loss-of-function R(B22)Q mutation linked to...

Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects millions worldwide, with a significant portion of individuals experiencing drug-resistant forms of the condition. In Latin America, the challenge of identifying the underlying causes of multi...

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication arising as a secondary effect of diabetes, with both genetic and environmental factors playing a significant role in its onset and progression. Epigenetics serves as the crucial link between t...

The conventional approach to investigating enzyme systems involves the simultaneous investigation of a large number of molecules and observing ensemble-averaged properties. However, modern science allows us to study the properties of single molecules...

In restricted regions of the rodent brain, neurogenesis persists throughout life, hinting that perhaps similar phenomena may exist in humans. Neural stem cells (NSCs) that reside within the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) continually produce...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of infertility but also a metabolic disorder, frequently associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. However, its etiology remains inadequately understood. Recent studies...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular plaques containing amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by tau. Cerebral Aβ accumulation initi...

Background: Adriamycin, a chemotherapy drug, was first shown to induce malformations in rat embryos in 1978, with subsequent studies focusing on the development of esophageal atresia. Recently, we examined early tracheal development in healthy rat em...

The mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) from the tunicate Ciona intestinalis has been explored as a potential therapeutic enzyme for human mitochondrial diseases, yet its systemic effects remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the metabol...

Thoracic aortic disease (TAD) encompasses a spectrum of life-threatening conditions, including thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-associated aortopathy. While genetic mutations are...

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most frequent bacterial infections in children, representing a significant cause of morbidity with potential long-term complications, including renal scarring and chronic kidney disease. This review explor...

Proteins for elongation of very long-chain fatty acids (ELOVLs) are critical for the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), and they are one group of the rate-limiting enzymes responsible for the initial condensation reaction...

Beta-hemoglobinopathies such as beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease are severe genetic blood disorders affecting the beta globin chain of haemoglobin A (α2β2). Activation of delta globin, the non-alpha globin of HbA2 (α2δ2...

People engaged in various activities in cold environments—such as those living in cold climates, polar workers, cold storage workers, and athletes engaged in winter sports—are frequently affected by cold environments. Therefore, it is of...

HOX genes, a family of conserved transcription factors, are critical for reproductive tract development and endometrial functionality. This review highlights the molecular underpinnings of HOXA10/HOXA11 in reproductive health and their dysregulation...

Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a developmental disability arising from bi-allelic pathogenic variants in the 7-dehydrocholestrol reductase (DHCR7) enzyme and the accumulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC). 7-DHC spontaneously oxid...

Endometriosis is a complicated condition characterized by inflammation, low oocyte quality, and decreased uterus receptivity, associated with fertility issues. This study aims to better understand the reduced pregnancy outcome in endometriosis by ana...

Background: Vitamin D intake and synthesis are essential. Vitamin D deficiency is increasing across all age groups, raising concerns regarding public health. Serum 25(OH)D is measured to define vitamin D deficiency. However, its quantification in non...

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), which play important roles in several inflammatory diseases. There is a growing interest in developing alterna...

Stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a rupture of blood vessels or blockage in the brain. It is the major cause of physical disabilities in adulthood. Despite advances in surgical and pharmacological therapy, functiona...

Background/Objectives: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation widely used in the assessment of gastrointestinal disorders. However, its role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. Given the growing recognition of...

Renal fibrosis is a critical pathological feature of various chronic kidney diseases, with hypoxia being recognized as an important factor in inducing fibrosis. Yaks have long inhabited high-altitude hypoxic environments and do not exhibit fibrotic d...